Behind the Breakthrough of 30 Million Automobile Output and Sales is the New Demand for Welding Technology

With the recovery of the macro economy after the epidemic, the support of national policies and the further promotion of new energy vehicles, China's automobile market has steadily raised in 2023. According to data from the China Association of Automobiles, in 2023, China's automobile production and sales reached 30.161 million and 30.094 million respectively, with a year-on-year increased of 11.6% and 12% respectively. Among them, 4.91 million vehicles were exported, with a year-on-year increased of 58%. Compared with last year, the output growth rate increased by 8.2 percentage points, and the sales growth rate increased by 9.9 percentage points.

The vigorous development of the automobile industry is inseparable from the stable output of the manufacturing industry. Welding is a key process in automobile manufacturing. The high quality welding of all about 5,000 welded joints in a entire vehicle determines the quality of the automobile and the market reputation of the automobile company. With the continuous growth of the automobile industry, market have put forward new demands for automobile welding technology.

1. New market brings new material requirements for welding technology

Traditional automobiles use a large amount of low-carbon, low-alloy deep-drawn plates, and some use high strength and galvanized plates, which can achieve relatively good weldability for material connections. The weldability range of various welding parameters for material connections is relatively large, good welding can be achieved using AC spot welding and MAG welding. Since energy saving and new energy vehicles must meet the requirements of "low carbonization,"  "electrification,"  "lightweight," and cost reduction, a wide variety of aluminum alloys, high strength , ultra-high-strength steels, and composites materials such as polymers and carbon fibers are used. Occasionally, dissimilar materials are also used in certain structures. The weldability of connection objects decreases as alloy composition, strength levels, physical and chemical properties of materials vary, and differences in properties of dissimilar materials change. The weldability range becomes narrower, requiring more welding equipment and process parameters as a result. 

2. Welding strength requirements

The welding strength and quality of the entire vehicle are extremely high demands for the top international automobile manufacturers. The qualification rate for spot welding strength quality for a vehicle with about 5,000 welding joints is 99.9%, with only five unqualified welding joints allowed, and key components such as the cabin and engine frame are not permitted to have unqualified welding joints.

3. Cost reduction and efficiency improvement, energy saving and emission reduction

Manufacturing cost pressure require cost reduction and efficiency improvement. National policies require energy saving and emission reduction. The temperature, smoke and dust particles in the operating environment are clearly defined. There is no doubt that the use of robotic automation in welding stations that involve highly complex operations and high quality requirements contributes to reducing labor intensity, ensuring welding quality and reducing overall cost. 

Facing the increasingly new demands of the market, Heron constantly innovates, keeps up with the market direction, designs and develops multiple reliable metal connection solutions.

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